Perforated roll for musical instrtthlents



.G. H. DAVIS.

PERFORATED ROLL FOR MUSICAL msmumcms.

APPLICATION HLED DEC. 6. I916.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

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GEORGE HOWLETT DAVIS, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

PERFORATED ROLL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed December 6, 1916. Serial No. 135,379.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that GEORGE HOWLETT DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at 35 Central avenue, West Orange, in the 'county of Essex andState of New Jersey,

has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perforated Rolls forMusical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in music rolls, referring moreparticularly to means for protectin the perforated sheets when in rolledcondition and for maintaining a substantially constant generalappearance of the exposed surface of the rolled sheet regardless ofconditions brought about by repeated handling of the roll.

While the rewinding operation of perforated sheets employed forcontrolling the operations of mechanisms, such for instance asself-playing musical instruments, places the sheet in a rolledcondition, the convolutions are more or less loosely rolled, and forpurposes of protecting the roll and for housing it in its container, itis desirable to tighten the convolutions after the roll has been removedfrom the instrument.

This is generally accomplished by grasping the central portion of theexposed surface of the roll in one hand and rotating the spool in theproper direction with the other hand. During the rotating movement thereis generally a slip action between the surface of the sheet and the handgrasping it, thereby not only producing a frictional, but also a weareffect on the outer convolution, resulting in soiling the exposedsurface of the sheet, the friction required in obtaining the tightwinding causing a transfer to the sheet of any soiling matter, etc,which may be on the hand; or should the exposed surface of the sheetcarry any fine dust, etc., the friction and moisture will set the duston the sheet. As a result, the exposed surface of the roll, when thelatter is used at successive intervals, gradually becomes soiled, thusdetracting from the general appearance of the roll.

This soiling effect may not be seriously objectionable where it isproduced under playing conditions in the home. It is, however, a seriousfactor for the dealer in rolls of this type As a general rule the dealeris called on to play a selection in advance of a sale, and where this isdone a number of times before a sale is completed, the successive rolltightening operations will produce the soiled appearance without in factaffecting the actual playing value of the roll, so that a customer willreceive the impression that the roll is not new but is second hand andwill not accept it. As a result, the deterioration in value of the rollwhile in the dealers stock, due simply to the use of the roll fordemonstrating purposes, is a serious problem for the dealer.

The present invention is designed to provide an arrangement, shown inthe present instance, in the form of an end label for the sheet, formeeting these and other objectionable features. The label preferably isof greater wear-resisting qualities than the sheet. The invention isalso designed to provide a label having a length greater than issufficient to form a single roll convolution, the label being preferablycolor treated, marked, or tinted to produce a surface effect andappearance somewhat simulating or resembling surface soiling ordiscoloration such as usually results from contact of the hand with theroll during hand-rolling and tightening operations, said surfacetreatment rendering such soiling substantially unnoticeable. By thisarrangement, the rolled convolutions may be drawn tight in the usualmanner without renderin the exposed surface unsightly, soiling actionbeing ineffective to materially change the appearance of the exposedsurface through the tendency to neutralize the effect produced by thesoiling action.

The invention further contemplates the use of a label for sheets of thischaracter, the label having a length sufiicient to provide a pluralityof convolutions, and carrying suitable matter which may be explanatoryof or bearing on the SllbJGCt matter of the composition or of itsauthor, this matter being positioned on the label in such manner as tobe protected by the outer convolution and therefore free from thesoiling action.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understoodas the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists inthe improved construction and combination of parts hereafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing the figure shows a music sheet roll having the labelsecured thereto, the label and a portion of the roll being shown asunwound.

1.0 designates a music sheet spool carrying a perforated music sheet 11of a. well known type.

12 indicates a label positioned at the end of the sheet, the labelhaving the usual loop 13 to permit attachment to the takeup roll whenthe musical selection is to be played. The label may be formed integralwith the sheet, but I prefer to provide a separate label and secure itfirmly to the free end of the sheet in suitable manner. By sucharrangement the labels are not only of uniform length, but the printingor other operations necessary to produce the arrangement presentlydescribed, are provided on a comparatively short flat element ascompared with the length of a perforated sheet, which, during suchoperations, would be partially wound on its spool and hence less readilyhandled. Furthermore, the separate label enables the use of material ofgreater wearresisting qualities and strength, as for instance a tougherfibrous material, than is generally employed in producing the perforatedportion of the sheet. There is thus provided a sheet-enveloping elementwhich protects the perforated portion of the sheet when rolled,withstands the general wear more efficiently, while at the same time theconnection between the label and perforated body portion aids inmaintaining the integrity of the latter, especially at its outer end.

The label is preferably of equal width with' the sheet body-portion, andhas a length greater than the length 'of a single convolution, apreferred arrangement being to provide more than a single convolution,especially where the free end is tapered as shown in the drawing. Inthis way, at least one convolution is of the width of the bodyportion,the tapered portion increasing the thickness of the protective coveringat that portion of the roll over which the tapered portion of the labelis wound.

As before pointed out, it is the universal custom to tighten up the rollconvolutions after the roll has'been removed from the instrument, onehand grasping the roll intermediate the ends of the spool, the graspbeing of the full-hand character. The friction between the hand and rollis such that any matter which may be carried by the hand in such form asto be readily transiiarred, will pass on to the exposed surface of theroll.

Repeated. operations of this kind soil the appearance of the surface,gradually giving the roll a somewhat unsightly appearance.

It would be impracticable, for various reasons, to provide a structureof this character capable of being readily cleaned and hence, to meetthe conditions, I produce an exposed surface which may receive thesurface soiling as usual, but which is so arranged that the soiling ispractically ineffective to change the general appearance of the woundroll, thus eliminating the marked contrast in color, etc., which thesoiling action produces under present practice. In other words, Iproduce a surface appearance of a character which somewhat simulates orresembles the surface soiling or discoloration which is produced undersuch conditions, thus meeting the objections by practically neutralizingthe detrimental soiling effect through making the soiling unnoticeablevisually.

This result may be obtained in different ways, but I prefer to obtainthe effect by marking or color tinting or treating the label in suchmanner that at least that portion which forms the outer convolution willretain its appearance unaffected by the soiling action.

The tinting may take the effect of an artistic design, thus adding tothe attractiveness of the rolled sheet, or the markings or tinting maybe more or less irregular in character. The tinting may be uniform or ofa graduated or shading type, or entirely irregular. Or, if desired, andas is shown in the drawing, the markings or tinting may be a combinationof these effects, a portion of the label carrying a fanciful design aand a more or less regular tinted portion a. The design'a will be moreor less covered by the taper convolution of the roll, thereby renderingit less liable to soiling effect, the portion a, when the label isunwound, having the appearance of a background for the design, thiseffect being retained even though the soiling action may actually changethe appearance of portion a, the ensemble effect remaining substantiallythe same regardless of the soiling action.

Asshown, the label is of a length to form a plurality of convolutionsand if desired, I may arrange the design with a space (6 (entirelycovered by the outer convolution or convolutions when the sheet isrolled) on which suitable matter may be placed, as by printing. Forinstance, the space may contain the words of a song when the sheetcarrics perforations of a musical selection having words; or it maycontain a brief historical or other statement bearing on the song or onthe author of the selection. By reason of the particular location thismatter remains unsoiled owing to the protection afiorded by the coveringconvolution.

The label may also carry a' space a to receive the title of thecomposition- The preferred arrangement is to employ the separate label,which is of such dimensions, when secured to the sheet, as to provideone or more convolutions equal in width to the width of the sheet, thedimensions being such as will enable this result to be obtained, and, atthe same time, produce an exposed surface free from superposed elements,such as would be provided in applying a label of smaller dimensions tothe sur face of the sheet, this being a common practice in the art, thelabel being pasted onto the sheet.

I thus avoid the disadvantage of attempting to tighten the convolutionsof a roll having a small superposed surface at a point where the roll isgrasped during the tlghtening operation.

As pointed out, the marking or tinting of the label or sheet, as thecase may be, may be produced in various ways, the word tinting asemployed herein, not being 1ntended to limit the invention to a colorscheme arrangement, but rather to indicate the production of a surfacefor effecting the result desired whether it be by embellishment orornamentation or by markings regular or irregular in design, etc., solong as the general effect to be produced is obtained.

All music rolls carry indicia giving at least the name of thecompositionto identify the particular rolland such indicia is located atsuch point as will retain it exposed when the roll is wound, so thatsuch indicia is subject to the same soiling conditions as the remainderof the exposed convolution. It will, therefore, be obvious that anyattempt to neutralize the effects of the soiling would be practicallyuseless if the soiling action on the indicia remain unneutralized. Bythe use of the type of neutralizing effects herein disclosed, soiling ofthe indicia is made unnoticeable by the fact that the soiling of theentire surface is neutralized by being rendered unnoticeable.

While the separate label effect is preferred, the invention is notlimited in this respect, it contemplating forming the label as anintegral part of the perforated sheet,

' a structure which may be preferred for some purposes.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred way of carryingthe invention into effect, both as to structure and use, it will bereadily understood that the same may be varied and modified to meetvarious exigencies of use and I desire to be understood as reserving theright to make any and all such changes or modifications therein as maybe found necessary or desirable in so far as the same may fall withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanyingclaims.

WVhat I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a perforated music sheet adapted tobe rolled,

said sheet having its outer surface at the free end thereof colortreated to produce an effect somewhat simulating surface soiling ordiscoloration such as usually results from contact of the hand -with theroll during hand rolling and tightening operations, said color treatmentrendering such soiling sub stantially unnoticeable.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a perforated music sheet adapted tobe rolled and having its outer surface at the free end convolutionartistically decorated to produce a color scheme effect that will rendersubstantially unnoticeable the surface soiling that usually results whenthe sheet is re peatedly rolled in the hand.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a perforated music roll thefree end of which is coated with a coloring material so applied as tosomewhat simulate and thus render substantially unnoticeable surfacesoiling such as is usuallv imparted to the roll by contact therewith ofthe hand dur ing hand rolling and tightening operations.

4. As a new article of manufacture an end label adapted to be attachedto the free end of a perforated music roll, said label having a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the music sheet to which it is to beattached and a length suflicient to provide more than a single rollconvolution, and said label having a portion of its outer surface colortreated to produce an effect somewhat simulating surface soiling ordiscoloration such as usually results from contact of the hand with amusic roll during hand rolling and tightening operations.

5. An end label for perforated music sheet rolls, said label having awidth equal to the width of the music sheet to which it is to beattached and a length sufficient to provide a plurality of rollconvolutions including the convolution forming the exposed surface ofthe wound portion of the roll, said laib'el also having data bearing onthe subject-matter of the musical composition,said data being located asufiicient distance from an end of the label to be covered by an outerconvolution of the roll when the sheet and label are in wound condition,and said lahel having a portion of its outer surface color treated toproduce an effect somewhat simulating surface soiling or discolorationsuch as usually results from contact of the hand with a music rollduring hand rolling and tightening operations.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a label adapted to form the free endof a perforated music sheet and to be wound with the sheet to form awound roll, said label having a length suflicient to produce allyresults when the sheet is repeatedly) rolled in the hand, thus renderingsuch surface soiling substantially unnoticeable.

7 As a new article of manufacture, a label adapted to form the free endof a perforated music sheet and to be Wound with the sheet to form awound roll, said label having a length suflicient to produce the outerconvolutions of the roll and also having surface markings to produce asurface appearance somewhat simulating such surface soil ing as usuallyresults When the sheet is repeatedly rolled in the hand, thus renderingsuch surface soilingsubstantially unnoticeable, said markings beingpositioned on the 15 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 20 in thepresence of a Witness.

G. HOWLETT DAVIS.

WVitness J. GRANVILLE Mnmns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe (Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

